Buhari signs disability bill into law
- President Buhari has confirmed the discrimination against persons with disabilities prohibition act, 2018
- Senior special assistant to the president on National Assembly senator, Ita Enang, made this known on Wednesday, January 23
- Enang said the act prohibits all forms of discrimination on ground of disability and imposes fine of N1, 000, 000 for corporate bodies
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, January 23, signed into law a legislation that will henceforth criminalise common discrimination against persons with disabilities.
This is contained in a statement by senior special assistant to the president on National Assembly senator, Ita Enang, Vanguard reports.
Enang said the act prohibits all forms of discrimination on ground of disability and imposes fine of N1, 000, 000 for corporate bodies and N100, 000 for individuals or a term of six months imprisonment for violation.
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According to him, concurrently it guarantees right to maintain civil action for damage by the person injured against any defaulter.
The act also provides for a five-year transitional period within which public buildings, structures or automobile are to be modified to be accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, including those on wheelchairs.
He said: “Before erecting any public structure, its plan shall be scrutinized by the relevant authority to ensure that the plan conforms with the building code.
''A government or government agency, body or individual responsible for the approval of building plans shall not approve the plan of a public building if the plan does not make provision for accessibility facilities in line with the building code.
“An officer who approves or directs the approval of a building plan that contravenes the building code, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of at least N1, 000, 000 or a term of imprisonment of two years or both.”
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Discrimination is prohibited in public transportation facilities and service providers are to make provision for the physically, visually and hearing impaired and all persons howsoever challenged. This applies to Seaports, Railways and Airport facilities.
The rights and privileges include education, healthcare, priority in accommodation and emergencies. Furthermore, all public organisations are to reserve at least 5 percent of employment opportunities for these persons.
He said: ''The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is also established in Section 31 with Executive Secretary as the head.”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that Barrister Aliyu Bagudu Abubakar has been appointed as the new director general for the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria by President Buhari.
Jessica Mamven, the head, press unit of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, in a press release revealed that Abubakar took over the mantle of leadership of the council from the acting DG, Tunde Ikusagba, who is also the council’s director, Criminal Justice.
The new DG is an indigene of Kebbi state and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto in 1987, was called to bar in 1988 after attending the Nigerian Law School in Lagos from 1987 to 1988.
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